My Phone Isn't a Christian...and Other Noteworthy News

It was another boring week in the Larson household.

Just kidding.

It was Jordan's MS Exam Week, which meant a test on Monday, and Tuesday, and Wednesday, AND Thursday. He did well, and we're relieved that's over. This next week will be much more low-key for him (some time on campus in the lab and whatnot), as CardioPulm doesn't start until the following week.

I've mentioned to him that he should do a guest post in his week "off"...so we'll see if he'll grace you all with his medical student presence in the coming week. You never know.

Apparently meals with friends (and family) (but not on the same day) is the theme for this post. (although I know you're still wondering why my phone isn't a Christian, we'll get to that.)

Kathy and Greta had lunch with me last week, I just forgot to mention it...the whole "I-was-looking-at-the-bottom-of-my-calendar-and-not-at-the-top" thing. We enjoyed burgers from Town Topic, which is just around the corner from work. Total hole-in-the-wall joint. Delicious burgers.

Liane and Audrey had lunch at my office this past week. So fun to just catch up as girls.

Chandra, Katie, Kim, and Jenni (all friends from home!) FaceTime'd me in for our monthly Girls' Night In...we try to have dinner together once a month. I'm always bummed to not be there in person, but am glad I can at least be a fly on the wall...or a face on an iPad! We shared some exciting news that I'm still ridiculously excited about. Will be so happy to spend time with these girls face to face again.

Thursday night I met up with girls from my Gospel Community Group for fellowship at Panera (where I had one of the hottest chai teas of my life. She steamed that thing to death). It's refreshing - and challenging - to be in a group that we're intentionally raw and honest with; to be open about where we're at in our faith, and what sins we're struggling with. I'm excited to see how this will push us - me - to grow closer to God.

Friday evening we had a bunch of our friends over (but not all of them...so if you're reading this, and you're in KC and you weren't here...please don't feel left out! We literally could not have fit any more people in our apartment...we felt bad that we couldn't invite everyone) for soup, appetizers, dessert...such a fun evening. We just enjoyed each other's company (and the delicious food - thanks for contributing, everyone!).

As you can see from the pic, mom and Lucas AND Kay (who's taking the pic) were in town! Hurray!

Mom, Kay and I shopped till we dropped on Saturday. We found some great deals and I "splurged" and got a new pair of jeans (my last ones were at least six years old...gotta love a good pair of jeans!). We also ate out at Andre's Confiserie Suisse, a little Swiss restaurant. It's $15.40 per person, and that includes a drink, your meal, and dessert. I had the Quiche Lorraine, which came with tomatoes with a dressing and a shredded carrot salad. Everything was fabulous. Mom had the same as me, except hers was Cheese Pie (and not Quiche Lorraine). Hers was fab, as well. Kay had the Ham & Cheese Croissant, tossed salad, creamed broccoli and carrot salad. Yum. Okay, I can't find the exact desserts we had (and I, of course, didn't remember to take a pic until after we'd devoured them)...but if you take a look here, you'll know we had something simply amazing. All women should go here immediately. I wouldn't say it's a "man's" place to dine, lol. (There were guys there, though!)

Sunday brought a surprise for Jordan and I. My phone decided it was daylight savings time (or something?!) and when mom knocked on the door at what I thought was 7:15 to get my straightener...it was 8:15 and we were leaving for church in 15mins. Hello, I'm awake now, yes. We made it out the door in 15mins (I even put make-up on, go me.) and were to church on time. This is the SECOND time my phone has told me an erroneous time on a Sunday, resulting in missing church (we didn't miss church today, but the first time we did). Thus, I've decided my phone is obviously not a Christian. Or maybe it's a Bedside Baptist. Who knows.

The morning continued to go slightly askew, when both my coffee and Jordan's got tipped over during church (his, only a few sips, mine, only a few sips were left in the cup)...and we have slanted "stadium" type seating...so it went up quite a few rows...and a grandma lady gave me a dirty look. Sorry!

We had a wonderful brunch at home with mom, Kay and Lucas before they hit the road (and mom - and dad! - stocked us up: potatoes, carrots, parsnips, stew meat, beef roast, Bridgewater sausage...so thankful!) and Jordan and I saw Cloud Atlas in the afternoon. It was mind-boggling and a little confusing...still processing it, lol.

Now it's a quiet evening at home before starting the week back up again!

The Final Stretch

It was the last week of Musculoskeletal, which really just means that the hubby and I were like ships passing in the night. He's been studying his brains out. (Hopefully not literally, because I think he'll need those for his tests on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday...) He spent the weekend on campus, 9:30am to 10pm yesterday and 7:30 to who knows today (I picked him up for church and dropped him off afterwards). I'm excited for this section to be done...I've barely seen the man!

I kept busy with a few things this week:

Pampered Chef Show

I had my first KC PC show...and we had a lot of fun - and ate some delicious German Chocolate Lava Cake. My host is one of my new friends here in KC, and (so far) she's getting at least $165 free. That's one of the things I love about PC - the company does a great job of making sure that hosts really get a lot of benefits.

Scentsy Party

Chandra had Scentsy party, so I ventured to Blue Springs after work one evening for delicious PC appetizers (since she's a fellow consultant) and fab-smelling Scentsy. I splurged ($5, hehe, but anyone who knows me knows that IS a splurge for me!) on a new scent: Apple Press (described as the smell of crisp fall days: crunchy apples, juicy pears, and just a hint of the last full roses of the summer). I love apple-scented candles and soap. Yum. I also won (I know, I know "I win everything") Snowberry (A luscious blend of loganberry, strawberry, peppermint, and zesty cinnamon)...cinnamon is my other fav scent for candles.

Gospel Community Group

I brought the treat this past week - Lemon-Strawberry Crumble Cake - and enjoyed fellowship and a discussion over last week's sermon. So very glad for this group. This week we start meeting (occasionally) as women/men only...we get to choose what book of the bible we want to study together. 

Babysitting

I watched Heath & Amber's (my community group leaders) 4-month-old while they went to a movie. But first, I enjoyed delicious, homemade chili (thanks, Amber!) with them before they went out. Graeme liked me for about 30mins after they left (he was laughing and laughing and playing so nice!) and then I was not his fav. I think this just means I need to hold him for at biblestudy - he's like the happiest baby on Thursday evenings!

Cooking

Yeah, it's like a weekend thing for me. But I love it. I made a chicken, veggie and rice soup (added a little curry paste to give it the kick hubby likes!) and today cooked up an easy tator tot casserole. 

(Deep) Cleaning

This is not a weekly thing. I always keep things picked up and the kitchen clean, but I don't vacuum/dust/clean bathrooms/wash floors every week (although my amazing mother does!). However. Next weekend, mom (and brother! and sister! who I haven't seen since JUNE!) are coming to visit, so in anticipation of that, I spent a couple hours cleaning the apartment.

...I'm getting slightly bored with my weekly recaps...what things do you wonder about our life here in KC?

Short & Sweet

This week was (slightly) more low-key than last. Here's the highlights.

Pampered Chef Meeting
I went with another PC consultant and med student wife (AND fellow South Dakotan) to a cluster meeting. It's so great seeing the different ways that we can do our biz and to get ideas for my own biz. I'm excited to say that my first KC PC show is tomorrow night!

Weekly Work Wandering
Once a week, I'll be traveling to Peculiar, MO to work onsite at our clients' office. Upside: Jordan tells me that I have my bosses may have suggested me to work there because I have a great personality for it. Downside: It's over an hour from our apartment.

Gospel Community Group
Still feeling so blessed by this group. We were small and intimate this week - our hosts, two others and me. We enjoyed coffeecake, coffee and great conversation over last week's sermon. So looking forward to next week.

Date Night: Em Chamas 

Thanks to a Groupon bought before we moved to KC, we dressed up and gorged ourselves on meat - top sirloin stuffed with provolone cheese, Em Chamas' special picanha, garlic-rubbed picanha, beef medallions wrapped in bacon, chicken spiedini (a-maz-ing), marinated chicken wrapped in bacon...the list goes on...

Neighbors
After living here for over three months we finally spotted our neighbors! After sharing his beer-buying success ($6/12-pack...even I think that's worth buying beer...), Jordan offered one to our neighbor (and I met their super-cute two-year-old). A few minutes later, we heard a knock on our door and our neighbor said that he was from Mississippi and that you can't let one gift go without giving another in return...and then he gave us some ground deer meat!

Home-cooked Meals

Left: Hubby's fav brownies with peanut butter frosting. (When I make these, he eats them for breakfast.)
Right: After hearing mom say she made goulash, I made some, too (with the aforementioned deer meat).

(A few of) hubby's lunches for the week: goulash and brussell sprouts. Packed and ready to go.

Babysitting
I watched Zach & Kody's adorable two-year-old Leah while they went out for their 5th anniversary. We colored, played catch, played dolls, played with my earrings, watched Beauty and the Beast, and played with the "duckie" for over 30mins. Hilarious.

See that shadow? There's a two-year-old in this duck hamper. 

Redeemer Fellowship
As we're working through 1 Corinthians, we were on 8: 1-13 today. Here's some nuggets from my notes:

• You either worship Jesus or you are an idolitor. You are always worshipping something - is it God?
• Do everything you do to proclaim your exclusive allegiance to God.
• Don't do anything that will make anyone think that they can server God and another (god).

Zona Rosa Afternoon
With the nice weather, I met up with Kody and Leah to enjoy KC's Zona Rosa outdoor shopping. I didn't buy anything, but enjoyed some time outside and some girl time.

The Hubby
I haven't seen much of Jordan lately - he's up to his eyeballs in muscles, nerves, and arteries (actually, I think that goes all the way to the top of his head...). He's still feeling super blessed and enjoying what he's doing. But, I know he's really looking forward to this section being done (word is, this is the hardest one of 1st year). Prayers are appreciated as he finishes up this taxing section! (Final on Oct. 18.)

The Weekly Recap

I guess that's sort of what this blog has turned into: a recap of the past week of our life. Maybe that's boring? (or maybe it's not) Either way, I guess that's where I'm at right now. Recapping the week.

Jordan had his MusculoSkeletal midterm on Monday. He passed (yay!), and was able to take it a bit easier this week than the two weeks previous, but he's still been studying like it's his job (which it is). To celebrate, we had a few friends over that evening and ended up watching The Princess Bride. Don't ask me why, but it was the first time I'd ever seen this movie. Ridiculous, I know. Some of you are probably wondering how this could have happened. (After all, it came out in 1987.) The conclusion that I've come to is that we didn't watch that type of humor at our house growing up. We were more of the John Wayne/Star Wars/Indiana Jones/Sound of Music type of family. (and, yes, I know, those don't go together at all) At any rate, we watched it. It was hilarious and wonderful. (But, not as wonderful as the book, which I read in 3 days the week prior to watching the movie. To be honest, the movie was a let-down compared to the book - but, like it always is, the book was just better.) (So if you haven't read it, you probably should read it immediately.)

On Tuesday, we met up with Jordan's KCUMB Big Brother (each 1st year is matched up with a 2nd year who can answer questions, give advice, etc) and his fiance at the The Flying Saucer for Trivia night where each team is to "Test your knowledge of useless information and win some kick-ass prizes!" (as said by The Flying Saucer's website) (and you can't use your phone to find answers - that's cheating!) And win we did. Our team took 2nd place for the evening and got a $30 gift card (to share). Steve and Allison have been coming for over a year and it's the first time they've won - Jordan told them it was because I win everything. (which isn't exactly true, but I do win. A lot.)

Wednesday meant a lunch date with my aunt Kathy. She brought a fabulous Kono Grill Avocado & Chicken Club with lettuce, tomato, applewood bacon, havarti and chipotle mayo served on a ciabatta bun with taro chips. So delicious. And we had a wonderful conversation as well. So blessed to be living near to this aunt...who I used to only see a few times a year!

Taro Chips pic courtesy of TinyUrbanKitchen.com, which has a wonderful post on what Taro Chips are and how to make them yourself. Yum.

My gift! Cake-in-a-mug and a
little pumpkin carved into a
tealight candle holder. 

Wednesday evening, my new friend Emily invited me to a quarterly birthday club where I even received a gift for my September birthday. I'll let Emily tell you about our evening - be sure to check out the cake our host made! Such talent.

Thursday was just spent at home catching up, since I'd been running around for the rest of the week!

Friday went back to being busy. After work I went to Josh & Audrey's and Audrey and I carpooled to The Melting Pot at the Plaza to enjoy cheese fondue and chocolate fondue with the KCUMB spouse group, The Other Half. Fondue is $5/person during happy hour, if you eat in the bar area. Otherwise it's $8/person. I'd like to go again so Jordan can experience it, too! (Don't worry, he doesn't ONLY study...on Friday he went out with a few other guys for burgers and beers.)

We had 3 types of cheese fondue to share:

Spinach Artichoke Cheese Fondue (my fav)

Rich Fontina and Butterkäse cheeses blend perfectly with spinach, artichoke hearts and garlic.

Fiesta Cheese Fondue (pictured)

Aged cheddar cheese pairs with lager beer, jalapeño peppers and salsa, made as spicy as you like.

Cheddar Cheese Fondue

Aged medium-sharp cheddar and Emmenthaler Swiss cheeses melt beautifully with lager beer, garlic and seasonings.

Dippers...

Cheese fondue selections include rustic artisan breads, fresh vegetables and crisp Granny Smith apples.

And three types of chocolate fondue to share:
Yin & Yang
This fondue satisfies dark and white chocolate cravings in an artfully balanced fondue dessert.
Flaming Turtle
We consider it Fondue Candy. It’s an irresistible combination of milk chocolate, caramel and candied pecans flambéed tableside.
Pure Chocolate (we opted for dark - pictured)
For the fondue purist, we offer milk, dark or white chocolate melted to decadent perfection.
Dippers...
Enjoy fresh strawberries, bananas, cheesecake, Rice Krispies Treats®, marshmallows, pound cake and brownies with your chocolate fondues.

The Other Half

Saturday I babysat again for the same couple whose kids I watched a few weeks ago. Such cute boys. Afterwards I ran a Pampered Chef booth at Gladfest for 3 (very chilly!) hours. I got a couple good leads and hope maybe one of them turns into a show. Jordan got back from the school around 8pm and we enjoyed frozen pizza while watching Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, a great redbox pick made by yours truly. (It seems like I always pick terrible redbox movies, so the fact that it was really good this time was a big win.)

After church today, I made up a pot of soup for lunches this week. And, for the first time, we turned on the heat for a bit...it got down to 29 outside and the apartment was at 60. I thought that was maybe a little extreme. (For those that know me, it's my choice to keep the heat off for as long as possible to save some $$...ridiculous, yes. Last year, in Sioux Falls, we made it into the first week of December before we turned on the heat!) I would have held out a bit more, but our lease said something about pipes freezing and bursting and having to pay for that and that sounded more expensive than turning on the heat. Ha!